publicdataau publicdata.au on GitHub
Published by Geoscience Australia under CC BY 4.0 and republished here without change to the content. Geoscience Australia has not endorsed this site.An independent republication of open government data. No government agency has endorsed it. Read more

Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations, Australia

live
Publisher Geoscience AustraliaUpdated irregularly, about every one or two yearsLicence CC BY 4.0Latest 2024-02-13Rows 8,888Fields 23

The Emergency Management Facilities Database from Geoscience Australia, read from its CSV download. Each row is one facility with its class, name, operational status, address, suburb, state, postcode and source agency, its published latitude and longitude, and the matched G-NAF address, its identifier, confidence and coordinates.

Also called: Emergency Management Facilities Database, Fire station locations Australia, Police station locations Australia, Ambulance and SES station locations.

Before you use it
What is in each row?
One police, ambulance, metropolitan fire, rural or country fire, SES or other emergency management facility, with its name, class, status, address, suburb, state and postcode, the state or territory agency the record came from, its coordinates, and the G-NAF address Geoscience Australia matched it to with that match's confidence and distance in metres.
Where do the records come from?
Geoscience Australia gathered them from each state and territory's emergency management agencies and open data portals, with the Australian Federal Police, through the Emergency Management Spatial Information Network Australia. The source columns name the agency for each row.
Why does the attribution mention G-NAF?
Geoscience Australia matched each facility to an address in the Geocoded National Address File, and its licence statement asks that products using it carry the G-NAF acknowledgement. Every file here carries it. Rows with the comment NO GNAF POINT have no matched address.
8,878 facilities drawn in 5,202 cells of 0.05 degrees, the fullest with 18.
Facilities counted in cells of 0.05 degrees. State outlines from the ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2021, CC BY 4.0.
8,888facilities
23fields
12formats
1version

Made for agents

Connect your AI agent

Any agent that connects to publicdata.au/mcp can find this dataset, read its 23 fields, count and filter across all 8,888 rows and diff its versions. Every answer names the version and carries GA's attribution. No key.

Then ask it: What does Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations, Australia hold, and what changed in the newest version?

claude mcp add --transport http publicdata https://publicdata.au/mcp

One command. No key, no account, no sign-up.

Download it as Excel, CSV, JSON and 9 more formats

Pick a format and a version. Excel is picked first because it opens in the tools most offices have. The URL is yours to keep. A dated version never changes.

Format
"Latest" redirects to the newest version and will change when the publisher releases again. A dated version never changes.
https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/latest/data.xlsx
Download

In your own tools

Use it in Excel, R, Python and more

Excel and Power BI read the CSV from its address and refresh from it. The R and Python packages take any dataset on this site by its slug, so a new dataset needs no new release. The DuckDB file attaches read-only over HTTPS, and a query reads only the blocks it touches.

The dated URL in the code never changes. https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/latest/ redirects to the newest version.

https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/latest/data.csv

In Excel choose Data, then From Web, and paste this address. Excel keeps it, so Refresh All reads the newest version. A sheet holds about a million rows; past that, load the query to the Data Model.

What is in it

Column names are made snake_case and the publisher's original header is kept beside each one. Blank cells are null. Nothing is added, removed, ranked or summarised.

FieldTypePublisher's headerNote
objectidintegerOBJECTID
classstringCLASS
facility_namestringFACILITY_NAME
operational_statusstringFACILITY_OPERATIONALSTATUS
facility_addressstringFACILITY_ADDRESS
suburbstringABS_SUBURB
statestringFACILITY_STATE
postcodestringABS_POSTCODE
attribute_sourcestringFACILITY_ATTRIBUTE_SOURCE
facility_sourcestringFACILITY_SOURCE
spatial_confidenceintegerFACILITY_SPATIAL_CONFIDENCE
commentstringCOMMENT
facility_latitudenumberFACILITY_LAT
facility_longitudenumberFACILITY_LONG
gnaf_building_namestringGNAF_BUILDING_NAME
gnaf_address_detail_pidstringGNAF_ADDRESS_DETAIL_PID
gnaf_formatted_addressstringGNAF_FORMATTED_ADDRESS
gnaf_confidenceintegerGNAF_CONFIDENCE
gnaf_postcodestringGNAF_POSTCODE
gnaf_suburbstringGNAF_SUBURB
distance_to_gnaf_mnumberDISTANCE_TO_GNAF
gnaf_latitudenumberGNAF_LAT
gnaf_longitudenumberGNAF_LONG

Download this table as a data dictionary (Excel), or read it as a Frictionless Table Schema at schema.json. The key is objectid.

A sample of 10 rows

From the latest version, each state or territory in turn, then in the publisher's order, with every field. A blank cell is shown as null.

objectidclassfacility_nameoperational_statusfacility_addresssuburbstatepostcodeattribute_sourcefacility_sourcespatial_confidencecommentfacility_latitudefacility_longitudegnaf_building_namegnaf_address_detail_pidgnaf_formatted_addressgnaf_confidencegnaf_postcodegnaf_suburbdistance_to_gnaf_mgnaf_latitudegnaf_longitude
1POLICING FACILITYCOLLINGWOOD POLICE STATIONOPERATIONALnullABBOTSFORDVICTORIA3067HTTP://DATA.VIC.GOV.AUHTTP://DATA.VIC.GOV.AUnullnull-37.804043284144.993567885nullGAVIC4130941784 EDDY COURT13067ABBOTSFORD0-37.80404328144.99356788
2007POLICING FACILITYAFP - CT - CHRISTMAS ISLAND - DETENTION CENTREOPERATIONALnullCHRISTMAS ISLANDOTHER TERRITORY6798WWW.AFP.GOV.AUWWW.AFP.GOV.AUnullNO GNAF POINT-10.471291105.57539nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
2010POLICING FACILITYALONNAH POLICE STATIONOPERATIONALnullALONNAHTASMANIA7150DPIPWEDPIPWEnullnull-43.315626463147.243101971nullGATAS7022215903889 BRUNY ISLAND MAIN ROAD27150ALONNAH22-43.31570115147.24334805
2396METRO FIRE FACILITYABERDEENOPERATIONAL20 MORAY STREETABERDEENNEW SOUTH WALES2336FIRE & RESCUE NSWFIRE & RESCUE NSWnullnull-32.163488150.890148999nullGANSW71846230820 MORAY STREET12336ABERDEEN12-32.16338121150.89012996
5209RURAL/COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE FACILITYACACIA HILLS VOLUNTEER BUSHFIRE BRIGADE INC.OPERATIONAL330 WHITSTONE ROADACACIA HILLSNORTHERN TERRITORY0822NT FIRE AND RESCUENT FIRE AND RESCUEnullnull-12.765815131.170576nullGANT_703864026330 WHITSTONE ROAD10822ACACIA HILLS7-12.765763131.17061
5361METRO FIRE FACILITYAINSLIE FIRE STNOPERATIONAL38 WAKEFIELD AVENUEAINSLIEAUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY2602ACT EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCYACT EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCYnullnull-35.261268429149.137171689FIRE STATIONGAACT71488894338 WAKEFIELD AVENUE12602AINSLIE2-35.26124892149.13716351
5418METRO FIRE FACILITYADELAIDE FIRE STATIONOPERATIONAL97-129 WAKEFIELD STREETADELAIDESOUTH AUSTRALIA5000HTTP://WWW.MFS.SA.GOV.AUHTTP://WWW.MFS.SA.GOV.AUnullnull-34.928928835138.605179106nullGASA_42237005291-129 WAKEFIELD STREET-15000ADELAIDE63-34.92893666138.60449024
6242AMBULANCE STATIONTORRES STRAIT HELICOPTEROPERATIONALnullnullQUEENSLANDnullHTTP://DATA.QLD.GOV.AUHTTP://DATA.QLD.GOV.AUnullnull-10.588964142.209665nullGAQLD719264757LOT 1 AUBREY PARADE04875THURSDAY ISLAND163-10.58812389142.21088897
7912RURAL/COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE FACILITYHITHERGREEN DISTRICTOPERATIONALnullABBA RIVERWESTERN AUSTRALIA6280HTTPS://CATALOGUE.DATA.WA.GOV.AU/DATASET/DFES-STATIONSHTTPS://CATALOGUE.DATA.WA.GOV.AU/DATASET/DFES-STATIONSnullnull-33.673392431115.503103328nullGAWA_162265986910 LUDLOW-HITHERGREEN ROAD16280ABBA RIVER512-33.676714115.499264
2SES FACILITYVICSES ESSENDONOPERATIONALnullABERFELDIEVICTORIA3040HTTP://DATA.VIC.GOV.AUHTTP://DATA.VIC.GOV.AUnullnull-37.763234002144.902691004nullGAVIC4254700539 RUTHERFORD STREET03040ABERFELDIE0-37.76323373144.90269078
The first row as JSON

As it appears in data.json.

GET https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/latest/data.json
{
  "objectid": 1,
  "class": "POLICING FACILITY",
  "facility_name": "COLLINGWOOD POLICE STATION",
  "operational_status": "OPERATIONAL",
  "facility_address": null,
  "suburb": "ABBOTSFORD",
  "state": "VICTORIA",
  "postcode": "3067",
  "attribute_source": "HTTP://DATA.VIC.GOV.AU",
  "facility_source": "HTTP://DATA.VIC.GOV.AU",
  "spatial_confidence": null,
  "comment": null,
  "facility_latitude": -37.80404328399993,
  "facility_longitude": 144.99356788500006,
  "gnaf_building_name": null,
  "gnaf_address_detail_pid": "GAVIC413094178",
  "gnaf_formatted_address": "4 EDDY COURT",
  "gnaf_confidence": 1,
  "gnaf_postcode": "3067",
  "gnaf_suburb": "ABBOTSFORD",
  "distance_to_gnaf_m": 0.0,
  "gnaf_latitude": -37.80404327999997,
  "gnaf_longitude": 144.9935678800001
}

Query it without downloading

The query API returns only the rows you ask for, as JSON, NDJSON or CSV, from the same typed rows as the files. It needs no key. Build a query here and run it, then copy the URL or the code into your own work.

Try rows or aggregate for this dataset. The query builder needs JavaScript.

How filters work

Each filter is field=operator.value in the query string, and every filter must match. A number or date field compares as a number or date, and a text field compares as text. Values are case-sensitive except with ilike. Prefix not. to negate a filter, as not.eq.value.

OperatorWhat it matches
eq.valueEqual to the value.
neq.valueNot equal to the value. A blank cell does not match.
gt.valueGreater than the value.
gte.valueGreater than or equal to the value.
lt.valueLess than the value.
lte.valueLess than or equal to the value.
like.*text*Matches a pattern where * stands for any run of characters. Case-sensitive.
ilike.*text*The same as like, ignoring case.
in.(a,b,c)Equal to any value in the list. A value cannot contain a comma.
is.nullBlank in the source, or suppressed by the publisher.
ParameterWhat it does
selectFields to return, comma-separated. Every field when absent.
orderfield.asc or field.desc, comma-separated. The publisher's row order when absent.
limitRows per page, 1 to 10,000. 100 when absent.
offsetRows to skip. The next URL in each answer sets it for you.
groupOn aggregate, fields to group by, comma-separated.
metricOn aggregate, count, sum.field, avg.field, min.field or max.field, comma-separated. count when absent.
formatjson, ndjson or csv. JSON carries the provenance header, and the others carry it in response headers.

Without a version the API answers from the newest loaded version, and that answer changes when the publisher releases again. Put versions/<date>/ before rows or aggregate for an answer that never changes. /api/v1/datasets/<slug>/versions lists the loaded versions. The 1 newest version is loaded; versions lists them.

The API allows 60 requests in 10 seconds from one address. Above that it answers 429 for 10 seconds with a Retry-After header, a RateLimit-Policy header and a JSON body that gives the limit. Every API answer carries the same RateLimit-Policy. A client should wait the Retry-After seconds, or read the files, which have no limit. openapi.json describes this dataset's query paths for client generators and agents.

https://publicdata.au/mcp is a remote MCP server over Streamable HTTP with the same tools, defined in the same place, so a tool added to the pages is added here too. It needs no key and no account. The row tools are held to the query API's limit of 60 queries in 10 seconds from one address, and each call is two queries because it also counts the matching rows. Add it to Claude Code with claude mcp add --transport http publicdata https://publicdata.au/mcp, add the URL in Claude as a custom connector, or give it to any client that connects to remote MCP servers. Each queryable dataset is also a resource at https://publicdata.au/d/<slug>/fields.json, which lists its fields with their types, the publisher's descriptions, their ranges and the values they hold, so an agent can read a dataset's shape before it writes a query.

Smaller files

The same rows split by a field, one JSON file each with a GeoJSON beside it. Each file carries the same provenance header.

By state (9 files)

by/state/index.json lists every file with its row count.

What changed

One version for every release the publisher has made since this site started following the dataset. The date is the day the file changed on the portal.

  • 2024-02-13
    8,888 rows23 fieldsutf-8-sigce6869941900

versions.json · changes.json · history.tar.zst (640 KB, every version's Parquet and manifest)

Questions

How do I download Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations as a CSV file?

Open https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/latest/data.csv. It redirects to the newest dated version, which is https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/v/2024-02-13/data.csv today. The same path serves Excel, JSON, GeoJSON, Parquet, SQLite, DuckDB, GeoPackage, GeoParquet, NDJSON, Arrow. A dated URL never changes, so use it when the file must stay the same.

Can I open Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations in Excel?

Yes. https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/v/2024-02-13/data.xlsx is a workbook with the 8,888 rows on a records sheet, the field list on a second sheet and the provenance on a third. The CSV also opens in Excel. https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/v/2024-02-13/data.csv.gz is the CSV at about a tenth of the size.

How often is Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations updated?

GA releases it irregularly, about every one or two years. This site checks the portal every week and adds a dated version when the file changes.

Can I use Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations commercially?

Yes. CC BY 4.0 allows commercial use, redistribution and derived works as long as the attribution is kept. The attribution string is in this page's side column and inside every file.

Is this the official source for Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations?

No. The publisher is Geoscience Australia, and its page is https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/015c1b8c-7b47-4780-8206-1bd39ad2120b/formatters/xml. This site republishes the publisher's file without changing its content. The original sits beside every version as source.csv with its SHA-256, so the two can be compared.

How do I get only the rows for one state?

Every version has one JSON file per value of state, 9 files in the current version, listed with row counts at https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/v/2024-02-13/by/state/index.json. For example https://publicdata.au/d/au-emergency-services-facilities/v/2024-02-13/by/state/new-south-wales.json holds the 2,813 rows where state is NEW SOUTH WALES. A GeoJSON file sits beside each one.

What coordinate system does Police, fire, ambulance and SES stations use?

Latitude and longitude in decimal degrees as published. Geoscience Australia's map service for the dataset is in GDA94 (EPSG:4283), which differs from GDA2020 by under 2 metres. The GeoJSON file uses the same coordinates, which is what GeoJSON expects.

What this site did to the data. Cells were typed, headers were renamed and the encoding was made UTF-8. Rows were left alone. The publisher's file sits beside every version as source.csv so the change can be checked.